YOU seem reluctant to drop Efe Sodje even when he plays poorly. Don't you think Nat Brown is worth a go in the centre of defence? Daniel, e-mail

Jacko says: FIRST of all, I have no worries about dropping anyone from the team if I don't think they are producing the goods.

There are no `favourites' in our squad because we are all in this together.

With reference to Efe, I did have a word with him before the Leeds game and told him I didn't think he was yet playing in the commanding style we saw from him last season.

He responded with what I thought was his best game of the season against Leeds on Tuesday night and, hopefully, there will be many more such performances to come from the team captain.

As for Nat Brown, he is another player who is waiting for a chance and I'm sure he will be determined to take it when it comes, especially after doing well in the Reserves.

Efe and the other defenders who are in the team know that Nat and Steve Yates are waiting to get back in, so hopefully that will help to keep them on their toes.

ARE the demands of players in higher divisions significantly higher than our wage structure? Martin, Manchester

Jacko says: WE have a budget and we have to stick to it.

We don't want to end up in the same situation as just over a year ago where we were in danger of going out of business and almost folded.

Wages in the Barclays Premiership are probably in the realms of what you read in the newspapers, because the leading clubs particularly are paying out some big money.

In the Coca-Cola League the wages are nowhere near those levels any more.

A few years ago there was stupid money being paid out in the Nationwide League (as it was then) and clubs ended up in trouble, as we know ourselves.

In fairness to Ken Davy, he went over budget last season to bring in Steve Yates and Efe Sodje. This year we have a budget and we are sticking to it. In fact, I have some money in reserve in case we need it.

We have to be careful with our finances, though, and every other club in the Coca-Cola League is working in the same way. Everyone is wary of going into administration and the days of big money being paid out at our level are gone.

You can only spend 60% of your annual turnover in any case.

For the record, wage demands have not affected me signing anyone this summer. I got two of the three players I was after.

DO you have plans to sign a striker due to our lack of goals so far this season? Helen, Wigan

Jacko says: NO, I haven't.

When you look at Andy Booth, Pawel Abbott, Junior Mendes and John McAliskey we have got four good strikers for this division.

I am not concerned at the moment about our `goals for' column because I know we are creating chances.

Things are not flying in the net for us, but I am not worried at the moment.

Opposition teams have great respect for Andy Booth, and rightly so. He is excellent in the air and, in addition to leading the line, he is tremendous in defence as well.

Pav made a great start to his career here and, after being a bit disappointing in pre-season, he has bounced back well, worked hard and earned a call-up for the Cup-tie at Leeds in midweek, when I thought he did well for us.

The only thing missing from Junior's game at the moment is a goal because everything else about his contribution is fine.

He has terrific pace and ability and he just needs a goal.

As for young Macca, I rate him really highly and you only have to look at what he did last year to realise he has something about him.

He is working hard in the gym at the moment to improve his upper body strength and he is itching to have a go.

Having come back in against Leeds for the first time this season, he will want to stay involved.

Like all the players, once they get a chance it's up to them to keep the shirt.

HOW did you feel John McAliskey and Anthony Lloyd did in the Reserves and have they proved they are worth a call-up? Tracy Sanderson, W Yorks

Jacko says: I THOUGHT they were both excellent last week although it would be unfair to pick out anyone from a very good team performance.

Anthony Lloyd is waiting for a chance and he's got to be patient.

What I can say is he is showing an excellent attitude and working hard, so I know he is ready to step in.

Lloydy is, obviously, desperate to play but Rob Edwards is doing a good job and, at the moment, he is holding onto the shirt.

With Macca, he showed what a really good striker he is with a couple of terrific goals against York and he might have had a couple more.

Like everyone else, when he gets a chance it's important he takes it and I thought he did well when he went on against Leeds on Tuesday.

HOW about playing Abbott and McAliskey to provide the goals we need? Derek, Honley & Tracy, W Yorks

Jacko says: I HAVE talked earlier in the column about our strikers and I like them all.

The great thing is we've got the scope to mix things around and I wouldn't think twice about playing any two of them together if I felt it was right.

At the moment we just need a break in front of goal. Once it comes, we'll be fine.

WHY wasn't Lee Fowler on the bench at Leeds? Jason J, Dewsbury

Jacko says: I LEFT him out of the 16 to accommodate an extra striker in McAliskey for what was a one-off Cup-tie.

While Nat Brown gives me options in defence and Danny Schofield can play midfield or attack, I wanted to get an extra frontman in addition to Junior.

Lee will again simply have to be patient. I thought Carss and Worthington, who have been my first-choices in midfield so far, had their best game together on Tuesday, but Lee will be back and, when he does, he'll be keen to do well.

YOU had a right go at the referee at Leeds. Did you give him a low mark? John, e-mail

Jacko says: I GAVE him a low mark only in the section for `major decision making.'

We had four penalty shouts, two of them blatant, and yet he didn't see any of them.

In my opinion, it made a massive difference to the outcome.

We had four points from four games the last time we were relegated. Are you feeling pressure to get us up the table or are you confident in the lads? Martin, Shelley

Jacko says: I'm confident. Last season we had only three points from four matches and look what happened!

Two games ago, if we'd won we would have gone third, so it's early days. We just need everyone to stick with us and we'll soon be moving up the table. No doubt about that.